Albion Merchants have many activities planned for 2015

New art show, fall festival join wine tasting, other events

File photo by Tom Rivers – Scott Sackett of Batavia, a vendor at the Downtown Browsery, pours Blanc d’Orleans from Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Aug. 9 during the a wine-tasting event in downtown Albion. About 200 people tried wines at several spots on Main Street and in the downtown.

ALBION – Last year the Albion Merchants Association and village government worked together to add a concert series and wine-tasting event.

Both the concert series and wine-tasting will be back this year, and the Merchants are planning more activities as well, including an art show and a fall festival.

The events are intended to draw people to the downtown and support the local businesses, said Debbie Grimm, vice president of the Merchants Association and a vendor at the Hazy Jade Gift Shop.

Some of the events for 2015 include:

Stained-glass window tour on April 18, starting at 11 a.m. at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church. The tour will highlight the seven historic churches in the Courthouse Square. Many businesses will also offer sales for the day.

The new “Art in Bloom” features art submissions from the community, from children to senior citizens. Their artwork will be featured on 5-by-7-inch canvasses that will be displayed inside the Hoag Library.

File photo – The Dady Brothers, shown performing last June 19 in Albion, will be back again this year to kick off the second season of Albion’s “Concerts on the Canal.” In this photo, Joe Dady pops the penny whistle in his brother John Dady’s mouth during the performance while John continues playing guitar.

“It can be of anything you want as long as it’s on a 5 by 7 canvas,” Grimm said at this morning’s Merchants Association meeting.

The canvasses are available at Hazy Jade Gift Shop, Bindings Bookstore and the library. The submissions should be returned by May 11. The show will run from May 16 to June 13. An opening reception is planned for 5 p.m. on May 16.

The artwork can be purchased for $10. The proceeds will be used to fund flowers and other events in the downtown.

The “Concerts on the Canal” will be on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. from June 18 to Aug. 13. The series kicks off with the Dady Brothers.

The village is managing the concerts, which have been moved from Bank Street to a park on the canal at the end of Platt Street. A grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is helping to pay for the series.

The 400 to 500 cyclists who ride the Erie Canal are expected to pass through Albion on July 13 between 8 and 10 a.m. The Merchants Association urges the community to welcome the participants for the annual “Cycling the Erie Canal.”

The second annual “Sip & Stroll Through History” will feature wine tastings at many local businesses and stops in the downtown from 3 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 15. Grimm reported that 11 wineries have already committed, as well as farm vendors, BAD-AsH-BBQ and the local musical group, the Sophisticats.

The Merchants will continue a shopping tour on Oct. 9-10 that will include deals and raffles at local businesses.

File photo – Gary Deiboldt of Albion plays the keyboards for the Sophisticats during a performance in downtown Albion last July. The group will play during a wine-tasting in Albion on Aug. 15.

The shopping tour will include a Fall Festival on Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will includes many children’s activities and games, a quilt display, baking contest, scarecrow auction, entertainment and a beer-tasting or beer tent.

Beggar’s Night will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 when kids in costume visit local businesses for treats.

Nov. 28 will be Small-Business Saturday when residents are urged to shop at local businesses.

The 4th Annual Hometown Holiday is planned for Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include games, raffles, pictures with Santa and other activities.

The Merchants welcome community support in helping to plan and fund the events.

For more information on the Merchants, click here.